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As I sit here thinking of all of the negatives that the media has said about the tea party movement, I decided it would be a good time to tell everyone the history of how the Northern Kentucky Tea Party started.
When President Obama was running for office, I must admit, I was scared for our country especially when he told “Joe the Plumber” he wanted to spread the wealth around. That statement chilled me to my bones and I knew I had to do something. But what could one person do?
At that same time, I was watching Glenn Beck every day after work. I finally found someone that thought like I did. However, Glenn kept talking about the 9/12 project which focuses on principles and values. His program really didn’t hit me as a movement that would energize the American people to take action. I knew we had to do something and do it quickly.
I wish I could remember the senator’s name that called for a tea party, but I thought to myself that’s exactly what we need to do. We need to get into the street in a peaceful manner and show our government that “We the People” are still here.
So I got on my laptop and joined all kinds of websites, AFA, Tea Party Express, Tea Party Patriots’ and I could go on and on. I posted on these websites that I was going to have a tea party rally. I didn’t know where, but I was going to have one. About two days later, I received tons of phone calls from people wanting to help. I talked to a man name Tom Kelly who told me he lived in Boone County for a long time and would love to help me get started. We began searching for a location and by chance I drove down Route 18 into Burlington and saw a gazebo. I called Tom and told him I wanted it at the gazebo. So we planned our first Tea Party event. By April 15 of 2009, we held the first Tea Party in Northern Kentucky. It was so cold and raining, however, about 75 concerned citizens attended. We were pleasantly surprised and motivated by the turnout.
When June came around, people were calling Tom and I wanting us to have a July 4th Tea Party rally. So in just two weeks, Tom and I put together another rally at the gazebo. This time 175 people showed up. It was clear to me that “We the People” were coming together. I was also receiving emails from Willie Schadler before the July 4th rally. Willie wanted me to join him and others to start a much bigger tea party group. So that’s what we did!
Our first meeting was on July 6th at Mark Hunter’s house with a member from the Cincinnati Tea Party to help get us started. We met every Monday. It didn’t take us long to decide that we should officially organize the Northern Kentucky Tea Party. We decided on our name, colors, logo, officers and so forth. Our first public meeting was held at the Independence library where we met most of our county leaders.
I am so proud that our Northern Kentucky Tea Party that started with just one concerned citizen who feared for her country has now grown to over 2,000 members. Yes, “We the people” are awake! Remember this is your city, this is your state, this is your country and most of all this is your Tea Party….God bless you and our Country….
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